The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-10
HARPER AND THE FIDELITY
In Spite of His Attorneys the Ex-Banker
Insists Upon Giving Testimony.
He Makes Serious Blunders, Is frequently
Reprimanded by the Judges, and Leaves
His Case in Worse Shape than Before.

after court opened it was not known whether
Harper himself would become witness or not
1t has been said that his counsel protested
against his appearance on the witness-stand and
that he firmly insisted that his interests de-
manded that he should tell his own story This
uncertainty brought most unusual throng Of
spectators Before 10 o'clock, the hour for opening
court, all the available space in the courtroom
occupied; even the space behind the railing,
sacred to the officers of the court, was filed with
ladies and friends of the court. among whom was
Hon. E. T. Noyes, ex- United States minister to
France, and Hon. T. E. Powell, late Democratic
candidate for Governor of Ohio. At 1000 the
erowd was go great that order was is
sued to admit more, not even attorneys.
unless seats should be vacated Still the cor
ridors filed, and the bailif at the door was
worried beyond measure BY appeals to be let
into the crush. The parties appeared promptly,
Ind the impressive opening of court, during
which everyone stood until the closing words.
"God save the United States and these honora-
BILE courts" were delivered, left hush upon
the animated scene. Harper appeared pale and
anxious, his wife weary, and her sister, Miss
Matthews wore face bearing traces of recent
distress. At twelve minutes after 10 the ques-
ton solved by Mn. Blackburn calling Mr..
Harper to the witness stand Before he took
-
quest to be placed on the witness-stand?"
Eyes, SIR" was the answer.
The oath was then administered and. in an
to questions by Dir. Blackburn, the wit
ness said he now resided in the county JAIL and
told of his previous business career, ending
with the Fidelity National Bank. which he said
he organized out of the Fidelity Safe Deposit
and Trust Company. He smiled when asked if
he knew j. WISVilshire. and went on to detail
Wilshire's CORRECTION with the Fidelity Ma
tional Bank. He said that in September, 1885,
he was induced by Wiltshire to make him loan
Of $4,000 Wiltshire, at that time, was a
hebtor to the bank to the amount
of 100000. and he represented to
Harper that if this loan was not made
the bank would suffer. He accommodated
him upon taking agreement to transfer
tain real estate and also 100 shares of Fidelity
National Bank at par. then worth 160. All
went well until October, when the witness re-
turned from q little dinner party composed Of
Wiltshire and some officers of the bank. and
found that Wiltshire, Eckert & Co.'S check for
$4,000, on the First National Bank had been
returned not good. That check, Wiltshire said,
he was unable to make good, and the bank was
compelled to carry it. Another day, when the
witness was out. Wiltshire, Eckert & Co. got
Hopkins to wire $4,000 credit to Chicago upon
certified checks. At the close of business hours
that day he found Wiltshire Eckert & Co.'S &C
count overdrawn 100000. With the former
e26, 900, their debt to the bank of $500, 900, and
their debt to him of $500 he felt that they
were in q dangerous position. Wiltshire trans
ferrred to him the real estate and the stock,
which he turned over to the bank He stormsd
ut Wiltshire, but could get nothing out of him.
He then suggested to the cashier to take call
loan from Wiltshire, Eckert & Co. to square
their account aud the cashier
In answer to direct questions from Mr.. Black
burn. Mr. Harper stated un.eservedly that he
TO buy grain for him in Chicago, and he was
equally sweeping and explicit in saying that he
him in Chicago or elsewhere. This is the point
OF the whole case. and is in direct conflict with
the testimony of both Mr. Wiltshire and Mr..
Eckert.
Mr.. Blackburn then took up the accounts of
the bank with the First National of New York
and the Chemical National of New York. where
large balances were carried, and Mr.. Harper
was called on to explain all these transactions.
He did SO with great minuteness, referring often
TO the books OF the bank. In general. his e1
! was put into trouble by Wiltshire, Eckert q
Co. q debt, and he used whatever methods he
could to save the bank and tide over affairs.
Harpers manner on the stand showed what a
difficult man he has been for his attorneys to
manage. He took the jury into his confidence
and talked to them withlthe purpose of convincing
them, but all the time transeressing the rules
of evidence explained to him time and again
by Judge jackson. He argued his he
went along until Judge Jacksons rebukes began
to be In tones of impatience. He testified doz-
en- times to occurrences which he did not wit
ness but of which somebody had told him.
Every question furnished opportunity
him to say what his intentions were. It seemed
like presumption, after Harpers sweeping denial
that be had ever, in any way. ordered Wiltshire
to buy wheat for him In Chicago or elsewhere,
for his counsel to hand him three notes. bearing
the initials 20. K, E. l.. H." and ask him to
plain them.
Harper went on to say that when Wiltshire in
March, still owed the bank and him those large
sums be insisted on his selling out his wheat
deal so to pay his debts. Wiltshire said that
TO do so safely he should buy some that day to
keep up the market, and then be could sell out
TO advantage the next day.
He asked my advice" said Harper, land I
gave it. I said to him, Make out your order to
buy June wheat, and if it is all right, I'll o. K.
it, Mr.. Wiltshire sent TO the bank this note that
he WAS going to buy that day $50, 900 bush
els of wheat, and o. KID it. It act
account of mine in any shape or form The
books of the bank will show. 1 think, that he
paid the bank considerable amount of money
the next day. had no purpose whatever in
this transaction except to get the money for the
bank that was owing to it by Wiltshire"
The second note was in cipher. and Harper
said it related to the same sort of transaction
The third note he explained by saying that Will
shire told him he had to pay for lot of wheat
May l. He wanted me, said Harper, Ito fur
nish money for this purpose | refused. He
May wheat and buy June, and pay the differ
He asked me to write memorandum of
q telegram to that effect saying. Please change |
that May wheat have not provided for to June
and July, my principal has decided etc. Mr. |
Wiltshire represented to me that he was buying
largely for Cleveland parties, and that is what
suppose he referred TO in the words my prin- |
cipal.'"
The witness then asked permission to explain |
D check of Wilshlres for $40. 900 in October, bns
was stopped by the court He was then asked |
II it was given for wheat deal He answered |
no; that it was given to pay bonds which Will |
shire had hypothetical without authority.
Here the court again stopped him, and cautioned |
him to answer questions and not go into irrele-
rant matters But he again lapsed so far as to |
iell that Wiltshire had gone 70 Cleveland 20 get |
help from his brother-in-law, and had come back |
with nothing, and later that Wiltshire had |
morrgaged his property for 200, and ex- |
planned to him that he did so to make good that